Bobcat lacrosse girls defeat Pembroke

Ann Furbush works her way around a Lebanon defender in action on May 5. Stephen Greenwood. (click for larger version)

May 12, 2014

PLYMOUTH — The Plymouth girls' lacrosse team continued its season-long improvement and broke into the win column with a 13-6 win over Pembroke on Friday, May 9, closing out a busy week that included four games.

"It was a good showing," coach Tom Cowie stated. "We continue to get better every time we go out and the girls are having fun.

"And putting a win behind us felt pretty good too," Cowie continued. "We give all the girls a lot of credit."

The two teams played to a 5-5 score at halftime, but the Bobcats held the Spartans to just one goal in the second half and took the 13-6 win.

Ann Furbush led the charge for the Bobcats in the game, scoring five goals, while Jessie McDonough netted four tallies. Mia Brickley, Tailor James, Hailey Crowell and Angelina Stewart each added a goal and Annie Schwartz chipped in with two assists.

The Bobcats spent the final three games of the week without starting keeper Sierra James, but freshman Dakota Hines stepped up and filled in, turning in 10 saves to earn her first win.

"She played as a youth league goalie," Cowie said. "She stepped up and did a very nice job."

Cowie also praised the defense of Brickley, Shelby White, Brianna Luscher and Sarah Scheinman in helping to secure the win.

The previous day, the Bobcats played host to a very strong Derryfield team and dropped an 18-4 decision.

"Derryfield is the cream of the crop," Cowie said. "Now that we're getting some confidence, I think we can hold our own against anyone in the second half of the season.

"But Derryfield is a different story," the Bobcat coach pointed out.

Cowie noted that in the loss, the team had some strong moments and he praised the entire team for stepping up and doing their best to protect Hines in net.

"That's what this team is all about," Cowie said. "I think we're going to turn it."

Furbush and McDonough each had two goals in the win and McDonough added an assist.

The JV Bobcats dropped a 4-0 decision, but Cowie noted that they more than held their own against a deep Derryfield team. Cowie noted that the varsity squad supported the JV team throughout the game.

"This is a really nice team," Cowie said. "We have fun every day."

The Bobcats played their first game without their starting goalie on Wednesday, May 7, at Kearsarge and the team answered with some strong play.

"We knew Kearsarge was going to be a strong team," Cowie said. "But in the face of all the adversity, we were winning 6-5 at the half."

However, the Cougars came back strong in the second half and picked up the 13-8 win over the Bobcats.

"They have a couple of very good players, but it took them to the second half to get them going," Cowie stated.

The Bobcat coach noted that the team rallied around Hines and turned in another strong defensive effort, beating Kearsarge to most of the ground balls in the first half.

"She rose to the occasion and the whole team supported her," Cowie said of his freshman keeper.

Stewart, Crowell and McDonough each chipped in with two goals, while Tailor James added a goal and Furbush, who was double-teamed all day, finished with a goal and an assist.

The Bobcats also had three goals taken away due to shooting space whistles.

The Bobcats opened the week with their first home game of the season, where they dropped a 16-9 decision to Lebanon.

"We just couldn't find an answer to their center," Cowie stated, noting the Raider star had eight goals on the day. "And one of the things that hurt us was unforced turnovers and struggling to possess the ball.

"Lacrosse is very much a possession game," Cowie continued. "Although we had glimpse of nice play, we didn't possess the ball the way we should have."

Furbush had five goals and McDonough had four goals to spark the Plymouth offense, while Sierra James turned in 12 saves in net in her only action of the week.

The Bobcats will be in action on Friday, May 16, at Gilford at 4:30 p.m., will host Laconia at 4 p.m. on Monday, May 19, and will host Kingswood on Thursday, May 22, at 4 p.m.

Joshua Spaulding can be reached at 569-3126 or sportsgsn@salmonpress.com